FOCUS ON PHILATELY
by Ingert Kuzych
Getting started
It's a new year and the perfect opportunity to finally take up your resolve to get into Ukrainian philately. It's the perfect stressbuster hobby: once immersed in collecting, sorting and mounting of stamps, all your worries seem to melt away. It is also a medically sound course of action, since people who are actively engaged in hobbies tend to live longer.
Starting in philately can be very simple and inexpensive. You need only decide what interests you or what you like to collect. Should I collect only Ukraine or should I include some other country? Should I collect some topics? [e.g. folk art on stamps [including pysanky], religion [including Christmas], sports [including Olympics]. What about music, or space exploration, or how about Kozaks? The list of themes one can collect can be almost endless. One friend of mine has put together a fascinating assemblage of "hands on stamps" from around the world. My own collecting topic is "flags on stamps." (See Figures 1 and 2 for additional examples of themes on stamps: Taras Shevchenko and Ukrainian architecture.)
General sources
Where does one get stamps? The first place to start is right on your mail. Lots of interesting stamps grace the envelopes (we call a stamped envelope or postcard a "cover") that arrive at your home every day. They can easily be removed from the paper they are attached to by soaking in lukewarm water for about 10 minutes and then drying them on a paper towel. It helps to place a stiff piece of cardboard and a heavy weight ( like a book) over semi-dry stamps to prevent them from curling up as they totally dry out. A bit of experimentation will soon reveal what soaking/drying technique works best for you. Alternately, you can save the entire envelope with the stamp attached. This is especially true for stamps postmarked on their first day of issue. Such an item is then referred to as a first-day cover.
Stamps may also be obtained from any of the dozens of stamp and coin stores found in most cities. These establishments all carry lots of (usually inexpensive) country packets or topical accumulations that can help you focus in on just what you want to collect. The dealers can also help you select what is called a stock book. These albums contain stiff mounting pages where your stamps can be stored. Decent-sized stock books for holding and sorting hundreds of stamps need not be expensive and can usually be purchased for under $20. Alternately, you may select a pre-printed album that depicts stamps of one country, or even the entire world (Figure 3). You may then chose to affix stamps by the use of clear mounts or stamp hinges, both of which are obtained at your dealer. I would also recommend a pair of tweezer-like tongs to help you pick up stamps without damaging them. With just these few items, you can be good to go!
Obviously, as you get more into the hobby, you will need more supplies (such as additional albums, pages and mounts) or will want more diverse sources for your stamps. Here a dealer can still be of help as he can let you know about forthcoming local stamp shows. These shows can be a gold mine for getting all sorts of more specialized items or specific stamps or covers you may be searching for. It's a great idea to get to know a lot of dealers at these shows and inform them about what you collect. Dealers generally are very good at tracking down esoteric materials their clients request. (After all, it's their livelihood.) I never cease to be amazed by some of the terrific items they find for me.
Another excellent philatelic source is the local stamp club. Fellow members will always freely share with you their interests, as well as information on the dealers with the best prices or where to find certain hard-to-get collectibles. Such clubs generally have their own sales or auctions where a wide variety of stamps and covers may be obtained for very reasonable prices. In addition, many clubs hold free biweekly or monthly talks covering a wide array of collecting specialties.
I have found, whether with dealers or club members, the important thing is to let people know what you collect and to find out in turn what they like to collect. Basically, what you do is get all those other folks looking for you and you reciprocate by keeping in mind what that other guy/gal also needs. So very often those other wandering eyes have spotted objects I needed. I, too, have been happy to locate special items that others badly wanted. In appreciation, they search even harder to find stuff for me. It's a win-win situation all around.
Ucrainica sources
OK, you've decided not only to make the wise move to take up philately but, in addition, to also make the brilliant resolution to include Ukrainian philately in your collecting. How to get started?
One of the most common questions I get asked is: Where can I obtain Ukrainian stamps?
It is possible to order stamps directly from Ukraine, but the service is still not that reliable. It makes more sense to order from dealers in North America.
There are two North American dealers who specialize solely in modern Ukrainian stamps. Both deliver excellent service, but their areas differ somewhat. The most comprehensive stock of stamps and postal stationery is carried by: Lemberg Stamps and Covers, c/o John-Paul Himka, P.O. Box 4054, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 4S8 Canada: jphimka@yahoo.com.
Lemberg prepares periodic free catalogues of the materials it carries (Figure 4). In its latest issue (No. 30 of November 2002) it describes itself as "the premier dealer worldwide in the field of modern Ukraine." I have to agree, as even Marka Ukrainy (which produces Ukrainian stamps) does not have near the variety of stock in its Kyiv store as Lemberg is able to provide. Better yet, the prices at Lemberg are usually less than those of other American or Canadian dealers who handle some Ukrainian stamps but who do not specialize in Ukrainian issues. One can still obtain all of the stamps of Ukraine's first 10 years (1992-2001) at Lemberg for about $240. That's 311 stamps, 33 souvenir sheets, and five miniature sheets!
The other dealer of modern Ukraine is: Roman Voronka, 30 Clinton Ave., Maplewood, NJ 07040-2129; rovoro@yahoo.com.
Dr. Voronka also carries all the commemorative Ukrainian stamps issued since independence, as well as many of the provisional stamps issued locally in Ukraine from 1992 to 1995. These fascinating temporary issues (many now quite scarce) were produced (generally in low quantities) during the transition time when USSR stamps were no longer valid, but Ukraine Post had not yet geared up to produce sufficient stamps to serve the entire country. Dr. Voronka is happy to send out free pricelists of his stock to anyone interested.
Two other dealers specialize in classical Ukrainian stamps (those from Independent Ukraine 1918-1923, from Western Ukraine, and from Carpatho-Ukraine). They are: Tryzub Stamp Co., c/o Michael Shulewsky, P.O. Box 279, Kensington, CT 06037-0279; Tryzub@compuserve.com; and Val Zabijaka, P.O. Box 3711, Silver Spring, MD 20918-3711 bnm123@erols.com. Either of these dealers will be happy to provide lists of the materials they have for sale.
I know and have dealt with all four of the gentlemen mentioned above and can vouchsafe for their fine service and integrity.
Some other common questions I have received: Is there a Ukrainian stamp collectors society in North America, or are there some regional local clubs I could join?
Yes to both questions. The Ukrainian Philatelic and Numismatic Society (UPNS) is the largest Ukrainian collecting organization outside of Ukraine (strictly non-political, its enrollment exceeds 300). Although composed mostly of North American members, it also serves collectors from around the world, including philatelists in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. An annual membership provides six bimonthly newsletters (with the latest on Ukraine's new stamp and coin issues), and two issues of the beautiful award-winning journal Ukrainian Philatelist (with more in-depth studies of Ukrainian philatelic and numismatic releases).
The UPNS holds an informal "zustrich" (meet) get-together every spring on the East Coast (open to everyone), where all sorts of collectibles may be obtained, either by purchase or trade. This year's will be at the Ukrainian Homestead in Lehighton, Pa., probably in early May (check "Preview of Events" in The Ukrainian Weekly in the spring for details). More formal UKRAINPEX conventions are frequently held in the fall and include exhibitions of rare Ukrainian materials, special talks on a variety of collecting topics and, of course, lots of buying and trading.
In addition, the UPNS provides an expertizing service where members may submit materials for authentication for a modest fee.
UPNS has eight local chapters where members get together. Three chapters are in the United States: Detroit, Mid-Atlantic (Maryland-Virginia) and Philadelphia, three in Canada: Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto; one in Kyiv, and one in Adelaide, Australia.
Interested persons may join by contacting: George Slusarczuk, P.O. Box 303, Southfields, NY 10975-0303. Annual membership is $25, plus a one-time $2 registration fee. A true bargain!
Another common query: Where can I find out more about Ukrainian philately?
A great place to start is the Internet and the site of the Ukrainian Philatelic and Numismatic Society: www.upns.org. Although the site itself is loaded with information, its links page allows you to visit dozens of other related philatelic and numismatic websites.
A final frequently asked question: Can Ukrainian stamps be obtained by auction?
Yes, classic Ukrainian stamps and covers are available at several auction houses. The only one to specialize solely in Ukrainian classic materials is Zabijaka Auctions, which holds thrice yearly auctions (January, April, September). Listings of the hundreds of lots presented at each auction may be obtained by sending $1 to: P.O. Box 3711, Silver Spring, MD 20918-3711. The auction also can be accessed on the Internet: www.collectormall.com/stamps and click on Zabijaka Auction. In addition, Mr. Zabijaka offers an open sale of items available to buyers on a first come, first served basis. No bidding is necessary.
Another auctioneer specializing in Eastern European philately is: Raritan Stamps Inc., P.O. Box 1539, Highland Park, NJ 08904; info@raritanstamps.com; www.raritanstamps.com.
Cherrystone Philatelic Auctioneers, 119 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019 frequently carries good Ukrainian items among the many countries that it covers. E-mail: bids@cherrystoneauctions.com; website: www.cherrystoneauctions.com.
Ukrainian collectibles also appear on sites such as e-Bay. I would urge caution when bidding for these materials unless you are knowledgeable about the items presented. Much worthless material fetches ridiculously high prices from clueless bidders. Better to gain some knowledge first through membership in a reputable organization such as the UPNS.
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A word of appreciation to Andrew O. Martyniuk, who assisted me in compiling many of the websites listed in this article.
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Ingert Kuzych may be contacted at P.O. Box 3, Springfield VA 22150 or by e-mail at ingert@starpower.net.
Philatelic resources on the Internet
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 5, 2003, No. 1, Vol. LXXI
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